Expats from all over the world living in Barcelona and Madrid and visitors just passing through are discovering a new type of social event that is revolutionising both travel and meetups in Spain’s two biggest cities. This is the Clandestine Dinner Party, a concept where pop-up restaurants meet exclusive club nights mixed with expat group exchanges.
International residents and tourists looking for a different kind of entertainment experience in Barcelona and Madrid are raving about this new multicultural and multifaceted event, but what makes it so special and how can you get involved?
The concept of the Clandestine Dinner Party is the brainchild of Rodolfo Madera, an architect, interior designer and experiential creative producer who combined his professional background with his passion for gourmet cuisine to start the company Let’s Drunch in 2013, combining the words ‘Dinner’, ‘Lunch’ and ‘Drunk’ to create a call to action for a truly memorable moment. Today the company involves an eclectic mixture of chefs, musicians, architects, designers and photographers who work to create the finest alternative events possible.
What happens at a typical Let’s Drunch event?
While no Let’s Drunch party is typical, they all feature a blend of music, food and cosmopolitan vibes. By the company’s own admission, these social dining clubs are held in “unusual places converted into restaurants for one night”. These venues may include anything from upcycled warehouses to rooftop terraces, but they are always decorated to the highest standards of interior design and lovingly crafted into the scene for an unforgettable pop-up dinner.
The food is prepared in front of guests, who can watch the chefs put together a whopping “10-course menu, including a cooking show of appetizers and dinner, made by Michelin Star-experienced chefs”. They work to create an “international menu based on seasonal local products with top quality”.
After the ‘showcooking’ and once everyone has had their fill, the private DJs get on the turntables and spin some tracks to get everybody out on the dancefloor. There is an open bar featuring such brands as Ginraw Gastronomic Gin and Bonanto Aperitivo, plus quality Spanish wines like Celeste Crianza 2014 from Ribera del Duero and Viña Esmeralda 2016 from Catalunya. The party lasts for a good 4 hours, giving you plenty of time to drink to your heart’s content, get your groove on and socialise with other international guests and make some new friends.
How can you attend a Let’s Drunch Clandestine Dinner Party?
These exclusive events are held every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in various locations in Madrid and Barcelona and have been running since 2017. Tickets cost 120 euro per person and must be booked in advance on the Let’s Drunch website. Given that there is an open bar, it is for over 18s only and you should take photo ID with you just in case. Most of the attendees are foreigners and expats, which gives the parties an exciting international atmosphere.
As well as Clandestine Dinner Parties, the group puts on other events like “Ático 1B”, a chance to mingle and experience great views of the sunset in Barcelona, and “Aperitivo”, which allow guests to enjoy a tasting session of gourmet gastronomy with complimentary vermouth, wine, beer or gin. They’re also launching the “Sail and Dine”, where you can “enjoy the sunset over the city while sailing on a private sailboat, followed by a showcooking dinner in a unique setting”, and there are plans in the pipeline to expand to other European cities in future. They can even create tailormade private events just for you, whether you want to celebrate a birthday, office party or organise a luxury get-together for you and your friends.
So, if you’re a fan of fine dining and deluxe experiences and you’re looking to meet expats in Madrid or make friends in Barcelona, or you just want to treat your mates to a truly special night, try one of Let’s Drunch’s unique social events.